Session 7: Advocacy for Social Networks in Education


Many schools have filters, which block social networks, however, social networks cultivate cooperation between educators, students, and parents to enhance learning. Collaboration on social networks teaches digital citizenship. Users learn:
· Appropriate and non-appropriate behavior,
· Network etiquette,
· Responsibility and
· Consequence.
There are social networks appropriate for various age groups. For example, Club Penguin found at http://www.clubpenguin.com/ has games and activities for the young. Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/ is appropriate for teens and adults. Facebook’s power for educators is it’s ability to form groups. However, schools usually just filter Facebook so educators cannot access it in school.
Many school sites now provide blogging and wiki features for schools to use. However these sites, like School Fusion, are usually a large expense to the district.


Session 7: Reading/Activity

Read Playing It Too Safe Online Will Make You Sorry by Suzie Boss

Boss, S. (2010, November 28). Playing It Safe Online Will Make You Sorry. Edutopia, 1-2 Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/print/node/5737

View the following slideshare:

Hamilton, B. ( 2010, Jan.) Strategies for Fighting Internet Filtering. Iste-Sigms Weinar. SlideShare PowerPoint. Nov. 27, 2010.

Session 7: Assignment

  1. On the Session 7 discussion board discuss your opinion on social networks in the classroom. If pro, give examples of how you could advocate its use in the classroom. If you are against the use of social networks in the classroom, defend your opinion.
  2. Post your share under the Session 7 Discussion Tab. Post as: Topic - LastNameHere
    Also react or add to another class post(s).